The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-15
BLOODY WESTERN DEEDS.
SANGUINARY CAREER OF THE
NOTED MATT RILEY.
The Slayer OF Numerous Men-He Is
Slowly Passing Away in Sacramento
rrir hdunnt,,,.n,1s ErOntiar life

bodies of those who knew him in the early
history of the frontier States and Terri
tories.
1t is name connected with such deeds of
blood and wild midnight raids as place en-
irely in the shade the most fanciful tales of
the James boys or ever the more renowned
EXPLOITS of su6. cold-blooded scoundrels as
Joaquin Murietta or the noted Vasquez.
Matthew Riley is the name of man for
whom the police authorities of Arizona,
New Mexico, Kansas and Missouri have
been searching high ard low for ten years,
but il has remained for the 'sleuth-hound'
repolter of the Examiner to ferret him out
Of his hiding place and drag him forth to
the light of day, holding him up so that all
may see the tw hands dyed deep with the
red blood of his victims.
sTRIC S:N WITH DISEASE.
It does not seem so very long time, yet
IN that space Matt Riley, gambler, despe-
RADIO. guerrilla and murderer, has gone
down the hill of life at such a rapid rate
that any one of his numerous victims could
at the present tim crush him as easily as a
pane of glass could be shivered with a
stone.
Paralysis has seized upon his once mighty
frame and holds him in its crushing tolls
as though he were bound with chains of
steel.
For years he has been an inmate of the
City and County Hospital of Sacramento
For years he has been lying on his back
unable to move from his bed, within few
hundred miles of those who were moving
heaven and earth to place him within the
clutches of the law.
RILisE'S HISTORY.
Riley was born n Arkansas in April
1874, an6 is therefore 43 years of age.
H., h. do, hp I,Ni,,
trell's band of b'e3whackers, and remained
with them ur<ss the burning of Lawrence,
at the pillage of which place he obtained
quite sum of money, about $4,000
FLED FOR HIS LIFE.
Having SO much money in his possession
he concluded that the life of a bandit was
not to his liking, whereupon he deserted and
fed to the Indian Nation, where he re-
manned some time, until in quarrel he
killed two Indians, and was compelled to
fly for his life, leaving everything he
possessed behind.
After innumerable hardships he finally
reached Texas, where he went to work driv-
ing mules for Scott, Kerr & Co.
BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A DESPERATE.
Here he began his career as a desperate. 1t
was during one of his trips that he went
into dance house in one of the small towns
along the line of the Union Pacific road,
h0u DIOCt6Ottl w Ill uIlllStll WIFI Dug juice
and to have a general good time when the
lover of one of the girls, with whom he was
making too free, took exception to his meth
cd and proceeded to empty his six-shooter
into Riley.
SHOT DOWN.
The first shot struck him on the right side,
glanced from the rib and made its exit near
the backbone. The second shot struck him
in the left leg, shattering the bone, and rem
he revived to see his would-be murderer pass
ing out the back door, and with a mighty
effort he succeeded in drawing his pistol,
took deliberate aim and fired The result
was the death of his foe, who fell in his
tracks.
LOWERING BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
For long time Riley lowered between
life and death, but, being a man of her
culean frame and wonderful vitality, he
pulled through, and from thence ON became
the desperate whose hands are stained with
the blood of twenty men.
RED-HANDED MARSHAL.
When he entirely recovered he went to
Ellsworth, where he was made Marshal of
the town. It was the general headquarters
of the cowboys in that region. Here he
killed two men, and was himself seriously
wounded. That section becoming too warm
for him, he once more migrated to Newton
Kan, where he joined forces with another
notorious slayer of human beings named
McCloskey
The wild frontier town was swarming
with thieves, murderers and roughs of all
classes, and men of indomitable courage
being wanted to suppress them, Riley and
McCloskey were selected by the good citi-
zens as Marshal and Deputy Marshal
A BLOODY STREET ARRAY.
Within few days their services became
necessary. A street fight was inaugurated
by some of the desperadoes, and the two
adventures lost no time in flying to the
scene, where they joined in the melee, with
the result that three of the murderously in
clined cowboys ''bit the dust
This event brought TO the surface the in
ordinate thirst for blood possessed by Riley
In the character of Marshal, and under the
cloak of the law, he slew three men who,
had be chosen, might have been taken alive,
instead of being sent unprepared into the
presence of their Maker.
COWBOYS REVENGE.
The companions OF the dead cowboys
vowed that their taking off should be
avenged, and accordingly awaited a fitting
opportunity AT last it came Riley was
ordered to pursue and capture some horse
thieves who had been committing depreda-
tions around Newton, and expected to be
absent about week.
Here was the much desired opportunity
The cowboys gathered together and con
cluded TO exterminate McCloskey.
THE PLOT TO KILL MCLosKEY.
For that purpose they proceeded TO a
3ance-house owned by Riley and Nc
Closkey and started row with the latter
A fight was an easy thing to find in those
days, and in less time than it takes to
write it McCloSkey had taken umbrage at
something a cowboy had done, and draw
ing his revolver he fired shot.
This was what the cowboys wanted In
an instant every mans hand held an inn
plement of death. A volley was fired and
McCloskey fell riddled with bullets As he
lay bathed in his blood one of his murderers
stepped forward and deliberately COM
mtnced emptying a revolver into his body.
Before the third ball had left his pistol the
door of the dance-house was thrown open
aud gigantic form was outlined against
the sky. 1t was Riley.
A CARNAGE OF BLOOD.
The cowboys were dumbfounded, as they
thought him miles away.
Riley took in the situation at glance,
and springing forward he seized around the
neck the man who was shooting into the
body, and, throwing him before his body as
shield, he drew his own pistol and com
menced a fusilade
Before he had finished seven men had fall
len dead Ipnanth big nj